James l



@einen tatrs gamut @fitta Letters Patent No. '13,951, dated February' 4,1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEERING-APPARATUS.

@te Stintino nient tn in tlgicse' flatten iitett zum mating mrt tf tige5min.

TO ALL WHOM IT` MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. OATHCART, of Georgetown, in the county ofWashington,'and District of Columbia, have invented a new and usefulManner of Steering Stea1n-Propellcr Vessels of all classes; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part ofethis specification,in which- Figure l is a perspective view,

Figure 2a longitudinal section.

Figure 3 a plan, and

Figure 4 a universal `joint.

a is the 'stern-post; I is the crane that supports the propeller; c c care the fastenings that secure the crane to the stern-post; d is thepropeller; e is the universal joint, which actsi as a coupling to unitethe outboard shaft upon which the propeller is secured to thedriving-shaft thatrpasses through the stern-post; f is the rudder-blade;g is the stem of the rudder, which passes through the deck; h is aspur-wheel, secured to the head of rudder-stem; z' is also a spur-wheel,connecting the spurwheel twith 7.2; c is a section of a spur-wheelsecured on the head of the crane b b; Zis the tillcr, whichis fastenedto the rudder-head; m is the steeringwheel; n 'n are the wheel-ropes orchains; o a bolt, used to secure the propeller from having a lateralmovement, by being passed through a. hole in the section spur-wheel 7c,and into a socket in the deck.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

I makev the crane Z b of iron or bronze, with two bearings, to supportthe propeller, and in which 'the outboard propeller-shaft revolves. Thecrane is securedto the stern-post by means of the two upper fastenings cc, and steps into the lower-fastening c, and upon which it can be turnedlaterally. The shaft or stem of the crane passes through and above thedeck suilicient to have the section of spur-wheel 7c secured to it. Therudder can be made of wood or metal, and is shipped asothcr rudders ofpropeller vessels, and on its head, or that part above the deck, thespur-wheel f. is secured. The intermediate spur-wheel i, (which connectsthe spur-wheel t on rudder-head, and section of spur-wheel c on head ofthe craneshaft,) ships and is revolved on a gudgeon or shaft secured tothe deck in such manner as to bc easily thrown in and out of gear withthe wheels L and 7c, so that when itl is not necessary for rapidsteering, the wheel z' is thrown out of gear, and the propeller securedamidships by means of the bolt o, which passes through the section ofspur-wheel c, and into a socket secured in the deck, and the rudderalone is used for steering when in narrow and crooked rivers or canals,where quick steering is required. The spur-wheel z' is thrown into gearwith the spur-wheel t on head of rudder and section of spur-wheel onhead of crane, thereby giving the propeller a lateral movement incombination with the movements of the rudder. The tiller Zis secured tothe rudder-head, and is moved by the steeringwheel m, which is connectedto the tiller by means of the tillcr-ropes or chains n n. In canal andother small propeller-vessels,

the tiller can be used without a steering-wheel.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv Thejointed propeller, so arranged in connection with the rudder as tobe capable of lateral motion for steering purposes, in'unison with therudder, by power transmitted through the latter, and of beingdisconnected therefrom and secured in its normal position, substantiallyas herein described.

JAMES Il. CATHCART.

Witnesses:

E. F. FRENCH, W. W. Sunni).

